After Bangladesh seeks extradition of Sheikh Hasina, there can be discussion on the matter, said two Indian scholars attending an event in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh and India need to come out of the tension and begin high level engagement to resolve the bilateral issues and address regional security threats, civil society leaders, academics and journalists from both countries said.

The relationship between the two neighbours also needs to be based on mutual respect, they added.

The event titled "Bridging Divides: Navigating the Complexities of India-Bangladesh Relations" was organised by the Center for Governance Studies at a hotel in the capital.

Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, said there was no doubt India played a significant role for Bangladesh in 1971, but its projection is such that the Bangladeshis did nothing.

"We need to recognize that we have serious problems. Only then we can resolve them," he said.

The two countries made no progress in water sharing over the last 15 years even though it is a serious ecological and economic issue for Bangladesh. With India not signing the Teesta deal, China came up with a proposal on Teesta management, but India then said it would do it.

"Had India solved it, we would not need to seek Chinese help. We understand China working there is a security concern for India. Then why hadn't India solved it?" he asked.

The meetings of the Joint River Commission over the years were irregular, he said.

Prof Sreeradha Datta of India's OP Jindal Global University said India's track record on water sharing with Bangladesh was not good, and West Bengal's need for irrigation was responsible for it.

However, both countries should look at ways of addressing the challenges because irrigation is needed on both sides of the border, she said.

Prof Ali Riaz said India blames China for dams on the upstream Brahmaputra and Bangladesh blames India for similar reasons.

"Can we, in that case, think of regional cooperation?" he asked.

The distinguished professor of Illinois State University also asked Indian civil society leaders what they thought about the sheltering of Sheikh Hasina by the Indian government even though she is accused of crimes against humanity.

Two Indian scholars said the Indian government will decide what to do if Dhaka makes requests for her extradition.

Prof Sreeradha agreed that Dhaka rightly expressed concerns over the issue of border killings.

She said Hasina was important for India because she ensured security for India's northeastern state.

"I think the current Bangladesh administration needs to tell the Indian side that it will do the same. That will help resolve the majority of the problems in the relationship," she said.

Shafqat Munir, research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, said the civil war in Myanmar and the Rohingya crisis were a security concern for India and Bangladesh.

Navine Murshid, associate professor of political science at Colgate University in the US, said Indian leaders' rhetoric about Bangladeshis going to India was part of their politics. "This is highly problematic. We want mutual respect."

Other speakers said populist policies and the use of religion in politics have often caused tension between the countries.

Anil Trigunayat, president of Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture; Fahmida Khatun, executive director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue; Suhasini Haider, diplomatic editor of The Hindu; Smruti S Pattanaik, research fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; Chakma Circle Chief Raja Debasish Roy; Ashok Sajjanhar, president of Institute of Global Studies, India; Arun K Sahni, former army commander of India also spoke at the event moderated by CGS Senior Research Fellow Prvez Karim Abbasi.